"In the locker room, it was one of the rivals that was wanted" - Real Madrid superstar on drawing Manchester City in the UCL

Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal has said that the team wanted to draw Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal.

Los Blancos take on the holders in a blockbuster last-eight clash next month. The first leg is at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 10 before the tie concludes at the Etihad six days later.

It's a rematch of the two behemoths' semifinal from last season, which the Cityzens won 5-1 on aggregate following a resounding 4-0 second-leg win at home. Pep Guardiola's side would go on to win their first continental treble.

Interestingly, the two teams had also clashed in the 2021-22 semifinals, which Los Blancos won 6-5 after extra time following a 3-1 first-leg defeat at the Etihad had put the Cityzens in a commanding position.

Ahead of their third straight meeting in as many seasons, Carvajal said (as per Relevo via Madrid Xtra) that Los Blancos wanted to draw the Cityzens, calling them a 'good' team:

“Manchester City? In the locker room it was one of the rivals that was wanted, because they are at a really high level, they’re very good."

Carvajal and Co. are coming off a 4-2 La Liga win at Osasuna to go 10 points clear at the top just before the international break.

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How Real Madrid have fared against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League?

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti

Real Madrid have had a rousing rivalry with Manchester City since the Cityzens made their UEFA Champions League in the 2011-12 season.

A year later, the Premier League had their first meeting with Los Blancos, losing 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu on matchday one before drawing 1-1 at the Etihad on matchday five.

Their next eight meetings would all happen in the knockouts, with the first one happening in the 2015-16 semifinals. Following a goalless first leg at the Etihad, Los Blancos prevailed by a solitary goal in the second and went on to win the competition, beating Atletico Madrid in the final.

Four years later, though, City recorded their first win over Madrid, winning 2-1 home and away. Their next four meetings came in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, with Madrid winning the first and City the other, both in semifinals.

Overall, City have four wins and three losses in the competition against the record 14-time winners.